Michelle has outstanding skills in building relationships of trust, candor, respect and productive interactions with mediation participants. Prior to becoming a neutral, Michelle was as a trial attorney in private practice, litigating complex business matters including contract, insurance coverage, intellectual property, real estate, regulatory and white collar matters. She also served as a Presidential Appointee, Legislative Director at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. She was General Counsel to the National Japanese American Citizens League from 2002 to 2012 and has participated in significant proceedings, in state court matters and to the U.S. Supreme Court. She received her juris doctor from Golden Gate University School of Law and her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California at Irvine.